GREEN THUMBS UP: Grow glorious grasses for year-round beauty

Saturday

Jul 21, 2018 at 2:00 PM

Thunderstorms and a momentary break from the stifling heat and humidity are in the forecast at the time of this writing. Despite the uncomfortable weather, my gardens are thriving with only a few recently introduced plants wilting during the heat of the day.

Throughout the growing season, perennial borders present an ever-changing portrait, with peaks and valleys in the bloom sequence. Attractive foliages bridge the gaps when colorful blooms are less plentiful, with tinted leaves offering color contrasts and lacy, dissected leaves providing textural diversity. The large majority of our plants, however, exhibit fairly similar forms and leaf shapes. The addition of finely textured, linear foliage is a welcome contrast and few plants rival the ornamental grasses for this attractive attribute.

The term, “ornamental grass” is currently applied to a wide range of plants (true grasses, sedges, and rushes) that share similar characteristics including linear leaves and a lack of brightly-colored floral displays. There are grasses to suit nearly every cultural condition including sun or shade, wet or dry. There are a few that are evergreen and still others that offer pleasing winter interest. Add to this adaptability a wonderful diversity of foliage colors, including varying shades of green, gold, blue, burgundy, and variegated varieties, and forms ranging from low prostrate clumps to towering 8-foot specimens, and the stage is set for a spectacular array of low maintenance plants to provide an appealing contrast to adjacent perennials or shrubs.

The statuesque members of the Miscanthus family have become popular additions to commercial and residential properties in recent years. Commonly known as Japanese silver grass or maiden grass, these sturdy clumping grasses are characterized by slender, slightly arching foliage, ranging in size from compact 3-foot specimens to 10-foot giants that can be used as dramatic focal points, a hedge, or a backdrop in the perennial border. They perform best in moisture-retentive soils, full sun, and good winter drainage. Silky plumes shimmer in the autumn sun and provide sound and motion, especially during the stark winter months. Clumps enlarge gradually but sufficient space should be provided initially, as their dense fibrous root systems make division challenging. Withered foliage should be sheared before new growth appears in early April.

Innumerable cultivars have appeared in recent years, including many compact varieties, but I prefer the taller specimens for their stately architecture. Personal favorites include "Morning Light" for its delicate appearance and Porcupine grass (Strictus) with horizontal yellow stripes. The broad, bold, longitudinally-striped green and white leaves of "Cabaret" are particularly dramatic and clumps seem more restrained in growth.

Switch grasses (Panicum) are equally lovely additions to the landscape, offering a similar architectural presence while displaying a slightly more delicate appearance and are easy to divide and relocate. Airy open seed heads give a hazy effect in late summer. Several cultivars such as "Northwind" and "Blue Fountain" offer blue-tinted foliage reaching heights of 3 to 6 feet; "Shenandoah" and "Ruby Ribbons" boast red or burgundy splashes on their leaves as the season progresses. These hardy native grasses will acclimate to nearly any soil type in sun or light shade.

The family of fountain grasses (Pennisetum) is characterized by mounded clumps of narrow arching leaves, 2-4 feet tall, and late summer flowers that resemble fuzzy caterpillars or bottle brushes. Several selections of Pennisetum are currently available including "Karley Rose" which produces rosy pink plumes. Perhaps the most irresistible variety is purple fountain grass (P. rubrum) with stunning burgundy leaves and arching fuzzy flowers; even more dramatic is P. Vertigo with wider, deep chocolate-tinted leaves growing 4 feet or more but without flowers. Regrettably, these two showier grasses are not winter-hardy. Best grown in full sun and moisture-retentive, well-drained soils, fountain grasses adapt to a wide range of conditions.

The finely-textured little bluestem (Schizachyrium) is a native grass, hardy from Canada to Florida, grows 2-4 feet tall, and adapts to dry, poor soils, clay, and moderately moist, well-drained soils. It performs best in sunny locales.

For shady sites, sedges (Carex) are outstanding for textural contrast with hostas. The leaves may be variegated, blue, or gold with the majority providing mounded evergreen foliage. Japanese forest grass is another winner for low light, featuring cascading leaves striped green, white, or gold.

Plant one or more of these carefree ornamental grasses in your garden this season and enjoy their beauty for years to come.

Suzanne Mahler is an avid gardener, photographer and lecturer. She is a member of a local garden club and is employed at a garden center.

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